diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py b/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
index 5d3beafc97c2..d96128beef21 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/badges/backends/badgr.py
@@ -189,13 +189,11 @@ def _create_assertion(self, badge_class, user, evidence_url):
                 "identity": user.email,
                 "type": "email"
             },
-            "evidence": [
-                {
-                    "url": evidence_url
-                }
-            ],
             "notify": settings.BADGR_ENABLE_NOTIFICATIONS,
         }
+        if evidence_url:
+            data["evidence"] = [{"url": evidence_url}]
+
         response = requests.post(
             self._assertion_url(badge_class.badgr_server_slug),
             headers=self._get_headers(),